Sermon VI. [LVI. Ben.] On the Lord’s Prayer in St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. vi. 9, etc. to the Competentes.1965 1. The blessed Apostle, to show that those times when it should come to pass that all the nations should believe in Christ had been foretold by the Prophets, produced this testi- mony where it is written, “And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.”1966 For before time the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth was called upon amongst the Israelites only; the rest of the nations called upon dumb and deaf idols, by whom they were not heard, or by devils, by whom they were heard to their harm. “But when the fulness of time came,” that was fulfilled which had been foretold, “And it shall be, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” Moreover, because the Jews, even those who believed in Christ, grudged the Gospel to the Gentiles, and said that the Gospel ought not to be preached to them who were not circumcised; because against these the Apostle Paul alleged this testimony, “And it shall be, that whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved;”1967 he immediately subjoined, to convince those who were unwilling that the Gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, the words, “But how shall they call upon Him, in whom they have not believed? or how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? or how shall they hear without a preacher? or how shall they preach except they be sent?” Because then he said, “how shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?” ye have not first learnt the Lord’s Prayer, and after that the Creed; but first the Creed, where ye might know what to believe, and afterwards the Prayer, where ye might know whom to call upon. The Creed then has respect to the faith, the Lord’s Prayer to prayer; because it is he who believeth, that is heard when he calleth. 2. But many ask for what they ought not to ask, not knowing what is expedient for them. Two things therefore must he that prays beware of; that he ask not what he ought not; and that he ask not from whom he ought not. From the devil, from idols, from evil spirits,1968 must nothing be asked. From the Lord our God Jesus Christ, God the Father of Prophets, 1965 These were the last of the classes into which the catechumens were distributed, and were so called because they were now so far advanced as to “seek for baptism.” See Serm. 216. 1 (Ad competentes, quid enim aliud sunt competentes, quam simul petentes) and Serm. 228. 1 (Competentes dicebantur quoniam materna viscera, ut nas- cerentur, petendo pulsabant). Bingham, Antiqu. B. x. ch. ii. sects. 5–12. See Conf. B. ix. 6 (14). 1966 Joel ii. 32. 1967 Rom. x. 13, etc. 1968 Dæmonibus. On the Lord’s Prayer in St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. vi. 9, etc. to the Competentes. 585 On the Lord’s Prayer in St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. vi. 9, etc. to the …